The Karachi administration has extended the enforcement of Section 144 for an additional two days, now lasting until October 19, as stated in a notification released on Friday.
Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, acting under powers granted by the Sindh Home Department, has imposed a complete ban on all forms of protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, and gatherings of more than five people in the city.
According to the notification from the Karachi Commissioner’s Office, this ban was requested by the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi. The office also noted that station house officers (SHOs) at relevant police stations have been authorized to file complaints for any violations of Section 144 during this period.
Initially, Section 144 was in effect for five days from October 13 to 17 to enhance security ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Islamabad.
It’s important to note that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has announced plans for a nationwide protest today against the proposed 26th constitutional package.
A declaration from the PTI political committee stated, “We have decided to resist the constitutional amendments.” The party’s core group has instructed regional and local organizations to conduct peaceful protests against the government’s attempts to introduce the amendments.
The proposed constitutional package aims, among other things, to establish a federal constitutional court and set the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) tenure to three years.
